Campbell p



(No Model.) 7

G. P. HIGGINS. MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES.

Patented Mar. 1, 1887.

A TTORNEY.

Phmumo m Walhingion u c CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MACl-HNE FOR F SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ORMING TUBES.

Patent No. 358,552, dated March 1, 1887.

Application filed August 14, 1856. Serial No. 210,877. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,haveinventcd a new and useful Improvement in Machines for FormingTubes,of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which like letters indicate like partsthroughout the several views, and in which- Figure l is a sideelevation, Fig. 2 a plan view, and Figs. 3 1509, inclusive, detailviews, of the various parts of the machine. (Shown separately.)

This invention consists of a forming device for drawing heavy sheetmetal or skelp into a tubular form having a rectangular or other shapein cross-section, ready to be welded at its edges by a subsequentoperation. The sheet metal is drawn, while in aheated state,longitudinally through a stationary die having opposite convergingspiral faces, which force the plate into the tubular form by wrapping orfolding the same about a central core or mandrel while it is beingdrawn, thus accomplishing the work at a single operation.

In order that others may understand and use my invention,I will proceedto describe its construction, explain its operation, andsubsequentlypoint out in the appended claims its novel characteristics.

In the drawings are illustrated the various parts of a machine which isadapted to the formation of tubing having a rectangular cross section;but the general features of construction are equally applicable to theproduction of varied forms.

The body A of the machine (shown separately in plan View, Fig. 7, andend view, Fig. 8,) composes thatportion of the die which receives theflat skelp at one end, between the upright projections h h, and bendsthe sides upward into a trough shape, which is further converted into atubular form by its passage beneath the upper dies, 0 e, on the plate F,which is bolted upon the block A, and is shown separately in side view,Fig. 5, and inverted plan view, Fig. 6. Within this structure Work thedraw-tongs, (shownindetail,Figs. 3 and 4,)

composed of a body or guide-bar, B, and a gripping-lever, O. The end jof the movable mandrel D, which is hollow, fits with its socket upon theportionfof the bar B, and is ofa size which will exactly fill theinterior of the tube to be formed. The bar B is ofa size equal to theexterior of said tubing, and is designed to precede the mandrel asaguide, between the dies, while the skelp is being first drawn into thesame. The bar B is grooved on its under side to receive the draw-rod orgripping-lever O, which is tightened against the work, when drawn, bymeans of a pin and inclined slot, d. The bar B is further provided witha rod, E, having a hooked end, which engages with the toe e of themandrel, and having an inclined portion, i, which strikes upon the end.l of the plate F, automatically disengaging said hook.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The draw-tongs areplacedinside the machine and the mandrel D is adjusted upon the end f ofthe bar B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and there held by means of theconnectinghook of the rod E, which is dropped over the toe e of saidmandrel. The plate or skelp S, (indicated by broken lines, Figs. 1 and2,) having been previously cut to a suitable width, with its edgesbeveled for the weld, is introduced in a heated state into the machinein the direction of the arrow between the guides h h until it comesbetween the jaws of the draw-tongs B 0, where it is seized by said tongsas they close on the workby the engage ment of a draw-chain connected toa hook, g, of the rod 0. The rod O carries with it the bar B, mandrel D,and skelp S, the sides of the latter folding about the said mandrel asthe drawing proceeds, first between the spiral converging faces b b ofthe body A,and thence beneath the spiral-faced inclines c and c of theplate F, which bend the lapping edges successively, one upon the other,over the top of the mandrel. Vvhen the parts have advanced to a point atwhich the mandrel D has entered the entire length of the dies, theincline i of the rod E strikes the plate F at J, disengaging the hookfrom the toe e of said mandrel, which is retained by said toe in thisposition during the passage of the remainder of the skelp, which may beof considerable length, afterward leaving the mandrel free for removalfrom the dies.

Fig. 9 is aperspective view of a plate which has been partly passedthrough the dies, and illustrates the spiral course in which the skelpis bent. The inclines c c of the plate F act at the points 0 0respectively.

The skelp may be drawn into suitable form for pipe of round or polygonalform in crosssection by constructing the machine with a cylindrical orpolygonal mandrel and having dies to correspond in form at the terminalend, other details herein described remaining substantially the same.

It is evident that the mandrel D may be made of the entire length of theskelp S, in which case the tube will not slide upon the said mandrel inany portion of its formation, and the action of the stop E will besimply to withdraw the mandrel from the finished tube. In the case oflong tubes, however, this will not be convenient, in which case the stopE will hold the mandrel D stationary during the remainder of theformation of the tube after a portion of the tube has already beenformed, so that the stiffness of the metal is certain to prevent thedistortion of the finished portion by the friction in passing throughthe die and around the mandrel. The mandrel D can then be heldstationary'without detriment to the formation of the tube. It isimportant, however, that this mandrel should travel with the skelpduring the first part of the formation of the tube to lessen thefriction upon the skelp, which friction would be sufficient to distortthe skelp and cause the tube to be imperfeet.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The method of forming rectangular tubing from flat plates of metal bypassing the same,together with the mandrel,through a die or dies, whichdies are constructed to perform successively the following operationsthereupon: first, to bend the skelp into a trough; second, to depressone edge of said trough upon the mandrel; third, to wrap the other edgeof said trough around the mandrel overlapping the first edge,substantially as herein described.

2. The method of forming tubing from flat plates of metal by passing thesame, together with the mandrel, through a die or dies which act to wrapthe plate around said mandrel, the mandrel traveling with the tubeduring the first part of the operation and remaining stationary relativethereto during the formation of the remainder of the tube, substandies,the same consisting, first, of a pair of spiral converging dies whichact to fold the sides of the skelp perpendicularly into a trough;second, of a spiral die which acts to fold one edge of said trough upona mandrel; third, of a spiral die which acts to fold the remaining edgeof said trough around the mandrel,'overlapping the first edge,substantially as shown, preparatory to welding the said edges.

4. In mechanism for forming tubing from flat plates, the eombinatiomwitha die or dies shaving warped surfaces, and a mandrel, of gripping-tongs,one portion of the same consisting of a guide-bar, substantially asshown, fitting the interior of said dies and provided with means (as atongue and socket) for sustaining saidmandrel in line with said guidebarduring the introduction of said mandrel between the dies.

5. I11 mechanism for forming tubing from flat plates, the combination,with a die or dies having warped surfaces, and a mandrel, ofgripping-tongs, the same consisting of a guidebar fitting the interiorof said dies and having a gripping-lever, as shown, and provided withmeans (as an inclined slot) whereby the drawing movement of saidgripping lever will effect a simultaneous gripping of the skelp.

6. In mechanism for forming tubing from flat plates, the combination ofa die having warped surfaces, mandrel, and gripping jaw or tongsprovided with means (as a hooked bar) for causing the mandrel to travelwith the plate during the formation of a part or all of the tube,substantially as specified.

7. In mechanism for forming tubing from flat plates, the combination ofa die having warped surfaces, a mandrel, and a gripping jaw or tongsprovided with means (as ahooked bar) for causing the mandrel to travelwith the plate during the formation of a part or all of the tube, andmeans for automatically disengaging the mandrel froin the tongs,substantially as specified.

CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

' 0. WV. FORBES,

WM. H. HANNA.

